Washington State Ferries sails into 2015 by taking the hesitation out of your vacation plans to the San Juan Islands. It all starts Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. To help get you going, here are some of the top questions (and answers) about saving a spot for your car on a San Juan Islands ferry.

Why should I make a reservation?

Have more time. Long ferry wait times at Anacortes and other San Juan Islands often cut into time spent soaking in the islands. Reserving a spot for your vehicle guarantees a space on the ferry, so you can have more time to do what you want, instead of waiting at the terminal.

No. There is no fee to make a reservation; however there is a no-show fee (PDF 298kb) if you do not travel on your reserved sailing or any time within the same service day from the reserved departure terminal.

Can I change or cancel my reservation?

Yes, you can cancel or change a vehicle reservation without penalty until 5 p.m. the day before your reserved sailing. One change is allowed after 5 p.m., but it has to be done three hours prior to sailing.

Where in the San Juans can I go?

Please click on the map to enlarge (PDF 518kb)

Westbound vehicle reservations are available from Anacortes to San Juan (Friday Harbor), Orcas, Shaw and Lopez islands.

Eastbound reservations are available from San Juan (Friday Harbor) and Orcas islands to Anacortes.

Why are there no reservations from Lopez and Shaw?

The ferry terminal car holding area is too narrow at both Lopez and Shaw islands to accommodate eastbound reservations. For now, we can only reserve eastbound vehicle space from San Juan (Friday Harbor) and Orcas islands.

How far in advance can I make a reservation?

Reservations are available for all sailings when the seasonal schedule is released, usually two months before the season begins. However, we don't release all of the available spaces at once.

Here's how it works:

30 percent of reservable space is released 1-2 months before the sailing season begins (there are four sailing seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer).

30 percent of reservable space is released two weeks before a sailing.

30 percent of reservable space is released two days before a sailing.

Releasing reservations in three tiers provides equal access to reservation space for customers who plan far in advance and those who make travel plans closer to the sailing date.

Our 22-vessel team works around the clock connecting communities and transporting goods day in and day out along our state marine highways. Learn all about what we’re doing at Washington State Ferries to keep our
vessels and crew in ship-shape. View the full blog.

Walk-on to the ferry for free: There will be no charge for
walk-on passengers on the following departures from Mukilteo:

11:30 a.m., 12 noon, 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Guests who plan to
drive on to the ferry must pay full fare.

Getting to the event from Clinton

Parking: It’s free to park your car in the Clinton
Park and Ride next to the Post Office on State Route 525. The celebration will be held at the Clinton Ferry Terminal, about a ten minute walk from the Park and Ride.

Shuttle to the Clinton terminal: Our friends at Whidbey-SeaTac Shuttle will provide free transportation between the Park and Ride and the Clinton terminal throughout the day. The first shuttle leaves the Park and Ride at 11:30
a.m.

More than just a pretty ferry...

Did you know that Tokitae is also the name given to an orca
captured from Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, in 1970? She was brought to a marine park
in Miami 40 years ago, where she was put into service as an entertainer named
“Lolita.”

Tokitae today at the Miami Seaquarium.

Tokitae is the last survivor of the 45 Southern Resident Killer Whales taken from Washington State during the capture era of the 1960s and 70s. Such
captures were later banned in Washington State waters in 1976.

You’ll have the opportunity to see magnificent photos and
learn more about Tokitae and our resident wild orca population from local orca
information groups at the community celebration.

Need more info?

If you have a question about the Tokitae community
celebration or would like more information, please feel free to drop me a line
at Benderb@wsdot.wa.gov.

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